Far away in the Caucasus, Komer was unaware that he had just narrowly escaped another catastrophe. If the St. Vasily cathedral and the Court had truly decided to join forces to eradicate Komer's influence, even with the significant enhancement of his current strength, facing a united assault from the elite of the cathedral and the Court would leave him with only two options—either to shrink back like a turtle, avoiding any confrontation, or to resist and be utterly annihilated.